SPEAKING & GLOBAL DIALOGUE
Bringing evidence, international experience and challenging questions into conversations about the future of
housing and cities.
Dr Orna Rosenfeld has contributed to more than 120 international conferences and high-level forums as a keynote speaker, expert contributor, chair, moderator and Master of Ceremonies—from the United Nations and European Parliament to major global gatherings on cities and the built environment.
Her speaking draws on nearly three decades of work across 56 countries, bringing together evidence, international comparison and experience of housing policy, urban development, investment and implementation. She connects global and European debates with the realities facing governments, cities and communities, creating conversations around housing systems, cities, inclusion and the forces shaping their future.
SELECTED INTERNATIONAL FORUMS & EVENTS
SELECTED SPEECHES AND KEYNOTES
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 |  |  |  |  |  High Level Conference on Just TransitionA just transition to clean energy and the phase-out of coal are at the heart of the efforts to minimize temperature rises globally. In Europe, the energycrisis caused by the war in Ukraine has made the need to provide vital support to regions and cities dependent on coal yet more urgent. Dr Rosenfeld was deeply honored to be invited by the Czech Presidency to the EU to present the global overview of the concept of Just Transition and review of the best global practices. |
 Smart Cities Expo: No Citizens Without an Affordable HomeDr Rosenfeld, a chair of the Living and Inclusion track at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, moderated a high-level panel including Tatiana Gallego Chief of Housing and Urban Development Division Inter-American Development Bank, USA; Rahul Kapoor Director Smart Cities, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, India; Pablo Javkin Mayor of Rosario, Argentina; Arno Bonte Deputy Mayor of Helmond, the Netherlands and Alejandra Robledo Social Capital, Constructora Bolivar, Colombia. |  Affordable Housing Activation AHA Conference by UIAWhat are the policy barriers to affordable housing provision? Dr Rosenfeld discussed at the Affordable Housing Activation Conference organised by the International Union of Architects in Barcelona. Dr Joan Clos, former UN Under-Secretary-General, and Executive Director of UN-Habitat chaired the session. |  Smart City Expo: Mitigating Energy Poverty through Affordable CitiesSmart City Expo World Congress is the world's leading event for cities. Dr Rosenfeld was invited as a chair of the Living and Inclusion track and moderated a session on Mitigating Energy poverty with Irene Skoula Director, Energy and Buildings C40 Cities and Camille Viros Economist / Policy Analyst, Urban Policies and Reviews OECD as speakers. |  Keynote Re-Building EuropeOrna Rosenfeld delivered the keynote for the start of the Drees & Sommer initiative Re-Building Europe. She gave an overview on the evolving concepts and aspirations in city development. She highlighted the unforeseen challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic and the importance collaboration and co-creation play in addressing them. |  Urban Future Global ConferenceCOVID-19 has revealed the importance of access to decent, affordable housing for all. At the Urban Future Global Conference, Dr Rosenfeld shared insights from her recent research on the topic. |  MIPIM world's largest real estate eventThe first MIPIM confernce after the COVID-19 pandemic included focus on changing trends and social impact of real estate. Dr Orna Rosenfeld was invited to moderate a high level panel on affordable housing including representatives of Gecina, City of Barcelona and UK Government. |
 INTBAU Architecture ChallengeKey housing trends and challenges reviewed by Dr Rosenfeld at the INTBAU Architecture Challenge, Homes, Shelters, Houses, Housing session. |  Housing at the Portuguese Presidency to the EUDr Rosenfeld discussed the future of housing at the Conference organised by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union along with Kim van Sparrentak| Member of the European Parliament, Paula Marques | Portuguese Municipal Housing Association and Sorcha Edwards | Housing Europe. |  Housing 2020 : The virtual festivalDr Rosenfeld discussed the future of global housing in view of the COVID-19 crisis along the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing Prof. Balakrishnan Rajagopal and Christian Schantl Director at Stadt Wien Wiener Wohnen. The session was moderated by Chris Wood, Assistant Director at Shelter UK. |  Chevining Network Israel: COVID-19 is there a light at the end of the tunel?Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? There was no better time to discuss the future of health and housing then in 2020 with the Chevening Network Israel in company of Shai Babad Former Director General Ministry of Finance of israel and Nadav Eyal Journalist with organisation of Tamir Oren. |  National Housing SummitAt National Housing Summit, Melissa Mean, Orna Rosenfeld and Rosanna Vitielo talked about how mass home working will influence the way we design and build homes. |  Housing for All ConferenceThe international conference “Housing for All – Affordable Housing in Growing Cities in Europe” was held in Vienna in December 2018. It welcomed around 350 participants from 36 countries. Mayors and other representatives of cities and municipalities, housing providers and tenant associations discussed current housing policies with members of EU institutions. Dr Rosenfeld provided a keynote highlighting EU housing trends and Housing Partnership Action plan. |
 Ministerial session at the UNDr Rosenfeld opens the ministerial session at the UNECE with a paper on key trends and challenges in achieving access to 'Decent, Affordable, Adequate and Healthy Housing for All' at the 78th Session of the UNECE committee on housing and land management held at the UN Headquarters in Geneva. |  European Young Leaders at Friends of EuropeInclusive Europe rests on the inclusive housing sector and inclusive urban development. Dr Rosenfeld discussed the trends in housing finance and post Global Financial Crisis. |  World Cities SummitModerating a high-level panel at the World Cities Summit in Singapore in July, 2018. Speakers: Dr. Cheong Koon Hean, Chief Executive Officer, Housing and Development Board, Singapore Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-General, UN-Habitat Alex Washburn, Former Chief Urban Designer, NYC Department of City Planning; Principal, DRAW Brooklyn LLC Abhishek Lodha, Managing Director, Lodha Group. Moderator: Dr Orna Rosenfeld |  INTBAU World CongressDr. Orna Rosenfeld presented the results of her research about affordable housing in the Global North at the INTBAU World Congress, held at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London. She was subsequently invited to the reception held by HRH Prince Charles the founder and patron of INTBAU. |  RIBA Royal Institute of British ArchitectsDr Rosenfeld gave an expert overview of the global trends and challenges in the housing sector post Global Financial Crisis. |  ELTI European long term investorsDr. Orna Rosenfeld was invited to present the challenges surrounding access to social and affordable housing in Europe to the Association of the European Long-Term Investors at their conference in Paris held at the Caisse des Dépôts. Speakers included Mr. Pierre-René Lemas, CEO of Caisse des Dépôts group, Mr. Romano Prodi, 10th President of the European Commission, Chairman of the High Level Task Force on Social Infrastructure and Mr Rolf Wenzel, among others. Report available in French. |
 International Housing ForumDr. Orna Rosenfeld was invited to present at the International Housing Forum in Singapore alongside Dr Philipp Rode (Executive Director, LSE Cities), Prof David Chan (Director of Behavioural Sciences Institute, SMU), Ms Jacqueline Poh (Chief Executive, Government Technology Agency), among others. |  CNBC Energy FuturesDr. Orna Rosenfeld takes part in the CNBC Energy Futures debate in Singapore with Lord Oxburgh of Liverpool Ron Oxburgh; Ravi Krishaswamy, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific at Frost & Sullivan; Joel Cherkis, general manager at Microsoft; Hazem Galal Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, among others. |  3rd European Housing Forum100 million people in the Global North are housing cost overburdened in the Global North, that was a key finding of Dr Rosenfeld's book for the United Nations that galvanised the political attention to the affordable housing challenges after the global financial crisis. |
REQUEST ORNA AS A SPEAKER
VIDEOS
Dr Chong Fook Loong
Director of
Research & Planning Group at HDB Singapore
Singapore
Dr Orna Rosenfeld was one of the distinguished speakers at the International Housing Forum 2017 (IHF 2017) in Singapore. She shared her wealth of experience on the topic “Price of Liveability”, focusing on the social and affordable housing in the global north. Dr Rosenfeld’s active contribution as a speaker and in the panel discussion on Housing Policies, Governance and Finance had made the IHF 2017 a great success. The feedback gathered from our delegates had found that the Forum, including Dr Rosenfeld’s presentation, enlightening and insightful. Cheers to Dr Orna Rosenfeld!
TESTIMONIALS
Dr. Arch. Haris Piplas
Senior Consultant
Integrated Urban Solutions (IUS)
Drees and Sommer
Switzerland
It was an immense pleasure having Dr Orna Rosenfeld as a keynote speaker at the launch of our Re-Building Europe Initiative 2022 kick off in Paris and listening to her inspiring insights regarding paradigms and practices - on how our cities can become more inclusive, poly-functional and flexible. We are looking forward to future exchanges and collaborations!
Anette Snedgaard Galskjøt
Consul General
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
Orna Rosenfeld is a talented and engaging speaker. She has the ability to reach her audience through a unique combination of her scientific housing research and sense of humour that energizes the audience while engaging them effectively in discussions about some of the most challenging urban issues today. I appreciated the way she spoke to every meaningful objective inspired action forward.
Jérôme Hamilius
(Former) Secretary-General
Council of Europe Development Bank.
France
Dr Orna Rosenfeld was one of the distinguished panellists at the ‘Financing social infrastructure in support of inclusive growth in Europe’ high-level conference, co-organised by the Council of Europe Development Bank under the auspices of the European Long-term Investors Association in July 2017. Dr Rosenfeld’s unique insights into Europe’s social housing and extensive knowledge of the sector across the CEB’s member countries greatly enriched the discussion on different financing patterns for the social and affordable housing. A long-term advisor for the CEB, Dr Rosenfeld is also frequently invited to share her research and experience with our staff at in-house events.